Ignition device for gas stoves



Oct. 27, 1936. c. E. METHUDY IGNITION DEVICE FOR GAS STOVES Filed sept. 5, 1951 Sheets-Sheet 1V Oct. 27, 1936. c. E. METHUDY IGNITION` DEVICE FOR GAS STOVES Filed sept. 5, 1951 2 sheets-sheet 2.

Patented Oct. 27, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT VOFI-ICE IGNITION DEVICE FOR GAS STOVES carl E. Methay, st. Louis, Mo., assigner, by

mesne assignments, to 'Ihc Cleveland Trust gcliliinpany, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Application September 5, 1931, Serial No.-561,364

s claims. (ol. 15s-11s) This invention relates to ignition devices for gas stoves, and it consists of various novel features of construction and arrangement of parts for cooperation with the usual gas burners vand pilot light device for improving the cooperation between these parts in conducting gas from the gas burners to the pilot light device and in directing the pressure wave of ignition from the pilot light device to the gas burners so as to ignite the gas passing from said burners; and it also consists in novel means for supporting the ignition device proper in a manner in which said ignition device will entirely, or to an extent, support the usual gas burners of the gas stove.

Objects of the invention are to provide an improved ignition device for gas burnersl for obtaining the results vand cooperative actions above indicated in an e'ective manner and for improving the combustion of the gas conducted from the usual gas burners to the pilot light device; to provide a construction and arrangement whereby the necessity for an accurate or precise adjustment of the usual air valves is avoided; and to obtain all of the other advantages of the invention herein disclosed, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which- -Fig. 1 is a plan view, with parts in section, of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View of the ignition device and a portion of the gas burner supported thereby.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of one of the tubes leading from the pilot light.

Fig. 4 is a view showing other variations in the construction of the tubes for conducting gas from the rusual burners to the pilot light device yand ,forvconducting the ignition from the pilot light device to said burners.

Fig. 5 is a view showing one of the air valves in connection with the pipes leading to the gas burners. I

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

The invention comprises a pilot light housing I having openings at its upper and lower end and' provided at its lower end with lateral extensions 2. As shown, the extensions 2 project inwardly from integral connection with thel lower end of the housing I and are seated upon a member 3 that is rigidly mounted in connection with the gas stove, so that the housing I is rigidly and immovably located. The extensions 2 are detachably secured to the support 3 by removable fasteners` 4 passing through the support 3 and the extensions 2 and clamping said parts tomay be varied and controlled, as desired. A-

A top for the pilot light housing comprise a disc 9 having therethrough a central hole I0 above the pilot light device and a series of spaced holes I I. These holes contribute to the proper combustion of the gas entering the housing and permit the burnedgases to escape from the housing. 'Ihe disc 9 is secured to the hous'- ing by any appropriate means as by an annular flange I2 in connection with the disc 9 and having telescoping engagement with the upper end of the housing I (Fig. 2).

A tubular socket I3 opens from one side of the housing I opposite a vent opening I4 in the wall of said housing.

Thispilot light housing is supported at a distance from the usual gas burner or cluster of burners I5 and at a distance from another burner I6 specially provided at a distance from the pilot light device and also at a distance from the usual oven burner (not shown) of the gas stove. A tube -Il conducts gas to the burner I6 which is within a burner housing I8. Atube I9 has one end opening into'the housing I8 and the opposite end opening into the socket tube I3. It is now clear that gas passing through the tube Il into the housing I8 will be conducted through the tube I9 to the pilot light housing I and ignited in said housing I. This will ignite the gas in the tube I9 and will also ignite the gas in the housing I8 and at the burner I6. Gas is conducted through the pipe vIl to the burner tip I6 constantly during the time that gas is conducted to the oven burner substantially in the manner disclosed in my copending application, SerialNo. 406,218. The connections for controlling the supply of gas to the usual oven burner and consequently to the burner I6 are fully ,disclosed in my said copending application and are not specifically' claimed in this invention beyond the extent shown in the annexed drawings. A tube from the burner device I8 is designed and adapted to receive gas from the usual oven burner (not shown) in the manner disclosed in my said copending application. When the gas at the burner I6 is' ignited, the flame of said ignition ignites the gas in the tube 20, causing a ame of; ignition to pass to the Cil f usual oven Iburner and ignite the gas passing from the ports of said oven burner in the manner described in my said copending application.

The tube I9 is formed with a number of inwardly extended riflies 2| and the tube 20 is formed with similar rimes 22.' These riiiies are preferably formed in connection with opposite walls of the tubes I9 and 2li and serve to cause a better mixture of air and gas and to improve the combustion and otherwise increase the efiiciency of the action of the device in igniting the oven burner.

Gas is supplied to the burners I5 from the manifold 1 through pipes 23.' Valve devices 24 control the passage of gas from the manifold 1 into the pipes 23. Each pipe 23 is formed with an enlargement or bell 25 receiving the gas from the valves 24 and having air inlet openings 2B (Fig. 5). A rotary valve 21 is mounted in connection with each air inlet device 26 and is adjustable in a familiar manner to vary and regulate and control the admission of air into the pipes 23 and the mixture of the air with 4the-gas passing to the burners I5. l

In gas stoves of ordinary construction heretofore in use, somewhat accurate and precise adjustment of the valves 21 has been necessary in order to obtain best results. 'I'he present invention in addition to functioning as automatic igniters for the gas burners also serves to hold the gas burners in proper relationship to the ignition device, to improve the mixture of air and gas passing from the gas burners to the ignition device and thus making it unnecessary to manipulate and eadjust the valve 21 in order to obtain proper mixture of air and gas to enable the present invention to function as an automatic igniter.

Certain ignition devices heretofore in vuse in order to function most efficiently have required accurate adjustment of the air admission valves 21.

To the extent already described, al1-species of the invention herein disclosed are alike and the different species will now be. described.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1, the housing I is rigid with and opens-into tubes 28, 29, 3l), and 3l. These tubes extend toward the respective burners I5 and at their outer ends have arms 32 projecting under adjacent portions of the respective burners I5. Lugs 33 on the respective burners I5 engage in holes 34 in the projections 32. Since the ignition device comprising the housing I and its attachments are rigidly supported, the burners I5 are attached to the ignition device in a manner preventing relative movement or displacement of the burners and the ignition device.

One of the side walls of each of the burners I5 is formed with a gas outlet opening 35, which may be directed at any desired angle of inclination with respect to the adjacent end oi' the cooperating ignition tube, as will be understood by reference to Fig. 1 showing gas names at the respective gas outlet openings 35.

The tube 28 has a flared or enlarged portion 36 at its end adjacent to the burner I5 so as to admit air freely to said tube for mixture with the gas passing into the tube from the port 35. A spiral element 31, which may comprise a wire shaped in spiral form, is supported within the tube 28 in a mannerin which the coils ot said spiral elementare spaced apart and form a spiral channel communicating with the opening or passage through said spiral member. This spiral member breaks and agitates the body of gas passing through the tube 23 so as to obtain a proper mixture of air with the gas and provide for better combustion. When gas is admitted to the burner I5 and passes from the opening 35 into and through the tube 28 and enters the housing I, said gas is ignited, causing an ignition flame to pass through the tube 28 to the burner i5 and ignite the gas at the port 35 and thereby ignite the gas passing from the usual 'burner ports 38. The tube 29 has a flared or enlarged portion 39 adjacent to the burner I5 and is formed on its inside' with two zigzag ribs 40 extending inwardly from opposite walls of said tube 23. These ribs 40 serve to obtain a better mixture of air and gas and to vimprove the performance of the device. It will be understood that the use of the devices 31 and 40 is optional. The tube 30 is formed with a dared or eniarg portion 4I adjacent to the burner I5. The tube 30 does not include any mixing members but has a comparatively smooth inner surface. The ared or enlarged portion 4`I is arranged adjacent .to the gas outlet 35, so that gas passing from said outlet will .enter and pass through said tube 33 to the pilot light housing.v At the pilot light housing gas is ignited and a pressure wave is caused to return to the burner I5 and ignite the gas passing from the port 35 and from the ports 38.

The tube 3i is of zigzag construction and has on its outer end a flared or enlarged portion 42 receiving gasrfrom the adjacent port 35 and causing the gas to pass through the tube 3l to the pilot light housing. 'I'he ignitedgas in the tube 3| causes ignition of the gas at the ports 35 and 38. The zigzag construction of. the tube 3l dispenses with the need for using mixing members within the tube.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 2, a'tube 43 opening from the pilot light housing I has on its outer end a flared or enlarged portion 44 adjacent a burner 45. The burner 45 has in itspasses into the tube 43. A number of projections 49 are formed within the tube 43 inorder to create an improved mixture of airand gas and improve the performance of the device. Gas passing through the tube 43 to the pilot light housing I is there ignited and a name of ignition passes through said tube 43 toward the-burner 45. The inclined upper wall 50 of the partition 48 directs the flame of ignition upwardly toward thetop of the burner 45 so that the gas passing from the ports 45 will be ignited. This is an embodiment oi means whereby I am enabled to locate the ends of the tubes extending from the pilot light housing in a relationship in which the upper sides of said tubes are not above the burners I5 or 45. By-this construction, I am enabled to obtain many or all of the advantages that are v light housing I and is there ignited, causing `a name of ignition to pass ythrough said tubes I to the respective burners I5. The gas passing from the ports 35 and 38 is thereby ignited. A

The ends of the tubes 5I have projections 53 extending under and engaging the burners I5 in the same manner as the extensions 32 engage said burners. 'I'he housing I is rigidly supported in any appropriate manner, as by a support similar tothe support 3.

The tubes 5I have rimes 54 along the inner walls thereof. These riilles cause agitation of the gas passing through the tubes in a manner to obtain better mixture of air and gas, so that better and more perfect combustion is obtained.

It is clear that in both embodiments of the invention shown, the ignition device comprising the pilot light housing and its associated parts is rigidly supported and has connection -with the regular gas burners of the stove, so that said gas burners are rigidly supported with respect to the ignition device. Further, the connection between the ignition device and the regular gas burners constitutes a guide for the workmen in assembling the parts, it being apparent that the parts are not in proper relationship until the lugs` 3,3 of the gas burners are engaged in the holes 34 of the ignition device. This prevents the ignition device and the burners from turning relatively and also prevents said parts from substantial turnable displacement. 'I'he novel features for improving the mixture of air and gas cooperate satisfactorily with the remaining features of the invention.

I am aware that the construction and arrangement may be varied otherwise than as specifically shown and described without departure from the nature and principle of the invention. I do not restrict myself in any unessential particulars but in the appended claims define the invention as broadly as the scope of equivalent limits will permit.

I claim:

1. In a gas stove, a burner having gas outlet openings, a pilot light housing spaced from said burner, a constantly burning pilot light device operating into said housing, a flash tube having a straight line of ignition passage from end to end opening from said housing and having one end opening adjacent to said burner in position to receive gas from one of said gas outlet openings and to conduct the gas to said housing for ignition by said pilot light device and for conducting the ame of ignition of the gas toward said burner, means cooperating with the wall of said tube adjacent said burner for directing the flame of ignition from said tube toward said gas outlet openings in said burner, and means for holding said burner and tube in proper cooperative relationship.

2. In a gas stove, a burner having gas outlet openings, a pilot lightl housing spaced from said burner, a constantly burning pilot light device operating into said housing, a fiash tube having a straight line of ignitionl passage ,from end to end opening from said housing and having a flaring end opening adjacent to said burner in position to receive gas from one of said gas outlet openings and to conduct the gas to said housing for ignition by said pilot light deviceand for conducting the iiame of ignition of the .gas toward said burner, means cooperating with vto receive gas from one of said gas outlet openings and to conduct the gas to said housing for ignition by said pilot light device4 and for conducting the flame of ignition of the gas toward said burner, and a deflector other than the wall of 'said tube and adjacent to said burner for deiiecting the ame of ignition properly to ignite gas issuing from said outlet openings.

4. In a gas stove, a burner having gas outlet openings, a pilot light housing spaced from said burner, a constantly burning pilot light device operating into said housing, a ash tube having a straight line of ignition passage from end to end opening from said housing and having one end opening adjacent to said burner in position to receive gas from one of said outlet openings and to conduct the gas to said housing for ignition by said pilot light device and for conducting the flame of ignition of the gas toward said burner, and a device within the ared end of said tube and spaced from the upper wall thereof for deiiecting the fiame of ignition toward certain of said outlet openings.

5.l In a gas stove, a burner having gas outlet openings, a pilot light housing spaced from said burner, a constantly burning pilot light device operating into said housing, a flash tube having a straight line of ignition passage from end to end opening from said housing and having one end opening adjacent to said burner in position to receive gas from 'one of said gas outlet openings and to conduct the gas to said housing for ignition by said pilot light device and for conducting the flame of ignition of the gas toward said burner, means in said tube for effecting mixture of air and gas passing through said tube to said pilot light housing, means cooperating with the wall of said tube adjacent said burner for directing the flame of ignition from said tube toward said gas outlet openings in said burner, and means for holding said burner and tube in proper cooperative relationship.

6. In combination, a gas burner having gas outlets at one elevation and a gas outlet port at a different elevation, a pilot light device spaced from said burner, a flash tube having one end adjacent to said pilot light device and its opposite end terminating adjacent said burner for receiving gas from said port and to conduct the same toward said pilot light device for ignition and for conducting the ame of the ignited gas back toward said burner, said last mentioned end having at least a substantial portion thereof terminating below the elevation of said gas outlets and at the level of said port, and a baiiie means Within said last mentioned end for directing the flame of ignition upwardly toward said gas outlets to ignite gas issuing therefrom. o

7. In combination, a gas burner having gas outlets at one elevation and a gas outlet port at a different elevation, a pilot light device spaced from said burner, a fiash tube having one end adjacent to said pilot light device and its opposite end terminating adjacent said.

burner for receiving gas from said mrt. and fn conduct the same toward said pilot light device i'or ignition and for conducting the flame oi the i'gnited gas back toward said burner, said last mentioned end having at least a substantial portion thereof terminating below the elevation of said gas outlets and at the level of said port, and a vbaille means within said last mentioned end for directing the name of ignition upwardly toward said gas outlets to ignite gas issuing therefrom, said bame means comprising a horizontal partition element extending between the walls loflsaid last mentioned end above the level of said port.

8. In a gas stove, a gas burner having outlet `openings through the top thereof and having a gas port through one side thereof, a pilot light housing spaced from said burner, a constantly burning pilot light device operating into said housing, a ilash tube having a straight line'of ignition passage from end to end opening from said housing and having one end adjacent to saidgas port to receive and conduct gas from said port to said pilot light housing for ignition I by said pilot light device and for conducting the name of ignition of the gas toward said burner, means vwithin said tube and cooperating with the wall thereof for directing the llame of ignition from said tube toward said outlet openings, and means for holding said burner and tube in proper cooperative relationship.

CARL E. ME'I'HUDY. 

